diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/reporting/ExportAction.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/reporting/ExportAction.java
index 406c1a41..6bd4b83d 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/reporting/ExportAction.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/reporting/ExportAction.java
@@ -197,7 +197,27 @@ public class ExportAction
                String   joinTableName = parts[0];
                if(!addedJoinNames.contains(joinTableName))
                {
-                  queryJoins.add(new QueryJoin(joinTableName).withType(QueryJoin.Type.LEFT).withSelect(true));
+                  QueryJoin queryJoin = new QueryJoin(joinTableName).withType(QueryJoin.Type.LEFT).withSelect(true);
+                  queryJoins.add(queryJoin);
+
+                  /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                  // in at least some cases, we need to let the queryJoin know what join-meta-data to use... //
+                  // This code basically mirrors what QFMD is doing right now, so it's better -              //
+                  // but shouldn't all of this just be in JoinsContext?  it does some of this...             //
+                  /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                  QTableMetaData        table               = exportInput.getTable();
+                  Optional<ExposedJoin> exposedJoinOptional = CollectionUtils.nonNullList(table.getExposedJoins()).stream().filter(ej -> ej.getJoinTable().equals(joinTableName)).findFirst();
+                  if(exposedJoinOptional.isEmpty())
+                  {
+                     throw (new QException("Could not find exposed join between base table " + table.getName() + " and requested join table " + joinTableName));
+                  }
+                  ExposedJoin exposedJoin = exposedJoinOptional.get();
+
+                  if(exposedJoin.getJoinPath().size() == 1)
+                  {
+                     queryJoin.setJoinMetaData(QContext.getQInstance().getJoin(exposedJoin.getJoinPath().get(exposedJoin.getJoinPath().size() - 1)));
+                  }
+
                   addedJoinNames.add(joinTableName);
                }
             }